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RVDA Names Keynote Speaker for Convention/Expo

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Ryan Estis

Ryan Estis will present “Unleash Your Inner Superhero: Keys to Achieving Breakthrough Performance,” as keynote speaker at the opening general session on Nov. 8.

Estis has more than 20 years of experience as a sales professional.

As former chief strategy officer for the McCann Worldgroup advertising agency NAS, he brings a fresh perspective to business events.

“Estis helps people see new opportunity through techniques that remove the barriers of fear, doubt and uncertainty that threaten to inhibit performance,” the RV Dealers Association said in a news release. “This important message introduces key insights about productivity and performance. Ryan coaches the audience through embracing change to achieve more meaning, mastery and momentum in their work life. The outcome of this speech will be an audience inspired to take action and become the very best version of themselves.”

Registration opened March 15 and early bird rates apply through June 30. Dealers who register at least one person from their dealership by June 30 at the early bird rate of $599 lock in a rate of $576 for the rest of their company’s registrants – no matter when they sign up. The convention takes place Nov. 7-11 at Bally’s Las Vegas.

“Having Ryan take the stage at the opening general session will get the Convention/Expo off to a great start for dealers and staff; we’ll head out motivated to be our best and prepared to capitalize on the great opportunities before us,” said Ron Shepherd of Camperland of Oklahoma, the chair of the convention expo committee. “We chose him to address our members because when things are good it is an even greater challenge to stride toward change and Ryan can give us the tools and motivation to do that.”

Companies interested in partnership and sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor information can contact Julie Newhouse at 703-364-5518 or send an email to jnewhouse@rvda.org.

Visit www.rvda.org/convention for regular updates as the convention approaches.


Several Brands Issue Unrelated Recalls

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NHTSA

Thor Motor Coach is recalling 385 of its 2014-16 Hurricane and Windsport motor homes due to the exhaust being located near a storage compartment where heat may build up, causing the compartment to melt.

TMC will notify owners, and dealers will install a heat shield to prevent heat build-up in the storage compartment. The recall will begin in March 2016. Owners may contact TMC customer service at 1-877-855-2867. TMC's number for this recall is RC000112.

Universal Trailer Cargo Group is recalling 217 of its 2007-10 Haulmark Motorcoach vehicles.

The bolt that attaches the fan gear assembly to the steps may fracture allowing the fan gear to disengage from the steps. As a result, the steps may not remain in the expected position and may become unstable.

Universal Trailer will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer bracket on the double step assemblies and the Coachstep Linkage Assembly will be replaced and a retainer bracket will be installed on the trip step assemblies. The recall is expected to begin May 9. Owners may contact Universal Trailer customer service at 1-574-264-9661.

Forest River recalled 176 of its 2016-17 Dynamax Rev and Coachman Orion RVs built on RAM ProMaster chassis, which have an ignition switch that may have an intermittent loss of electrical contact.

Forest River will notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) dealers will replace the ignition switch contact holder block, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on April 29. Owners may call the FCA Recall Assistance Center at 1-800-853-1403 or contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-262-3474. Forest River’s number for this recall is 51-022242016-0138.

Winnebago is recalling 31 of its 2015 Winnebago Adventurer vehicles and 2015-16 Itasca Suncruiser models. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that attach the hitch to the frame were not properly torqued.

Winnebago will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, where necessary, replace the hitch attachment bolts free of charge. Owners may contact Winnebago customer service at 1-641-585-3535. Winnebago’s number for this recall is 140.

Winnebago Towable is recalling 50 units from its 2016 Instinct trailers. The affected trailers may have an inadvertent "I" stamped as the fifth character in the VIN number.

Winnebago will notify owners, and dealers will install a new VIN plate over the incorrect VIN plate. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Winnebago customer service at 1-574-825-5250.

Searer Urges RV Industry to ‘Step Up’ in Debt Challenge

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RV/MH Hall of Fame

Darryl Searer, chairman and president of the RV/MH Hall of Fame, announced the updated totals for the Hall’s debt elimination campaign, and the manufactured housing industry pledges and contributions far outpace those of the RV industry, according to a news release Monday (March 28).  

When the program started about 18 months ago, the Hall’s debt stood at about $2 million. The plan unveiled at that time was that each segment of the Hall’s constituency would try to raise $1 million each within the next five years. 

To date, the MH industry has gotten solidly behind the program and has raised a total of $674,750 in pledges and contributions, while the RV Industry’s pledges and contributions is $132,500. Overall, the campaign has reached $807,250, leaving a shortfall of $1,192,750 toward the $2 million campaign goal, according to the release.

“The MH industry got a kick start from an ‘angel’ named Kevin Clayton, who personally pledged $200,000 paid out in five years, and he challenged other companies and individuals in MH industry to step up also – and many have.”

Specifically, Joe Stegmayer of Cavco Industries has pledged $50,000.  Many others have donated from $100 to $25,000, according to Searer.

“What we need is for a few more ‘angels’ on the RV side to step up now as they did in the earlier campaigns of the $100,000 challenge and the ‘Burn the bank note,’”  Searer said. “The RV industry has fully recovered from 2007 -2008 recession and today the RV business is booming. 

“I believe that the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum is a shining light for our two industries and belongs to everyone related to these two industries. We each should be proud of our beautiful facility, our history and heritage that it represents – proud enough to financially contribute to its continuing legacy.”

The Hall  had $5.5 million in debt four years ago, and that number has diminished to $1.2 million in the four years since Searer volunteered to lead the group and attempt to resolve its debt.

New Focus, New Energy for Cequent

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Corporate restructuring in the RV industry seems never ending, especially in the past few years. A fair question is whether such activity ultimately benefits dealers and their customers. Yet last year’s spin-off of Cequent — the leading maker of towing and trailering products — from TriMas Corp. promises to do exactly that, according to company management.

“We were kind of the stepchild,” Cequent President John Aleva says of the company’s TriMas days. “We really didn’t get a lot of capital to invest and reinvest in our businesses.”

Now that Cequent is part of a new company, Horizon Global Corp., formed after the spin-off, there’s a different approach.

“We are going to invest in this company,” says Aleva, who’s been at Cequent since 2003. “We are going to spend our working capital to grow our business, both organically and through acquisitions, to continue to drive innovation and product solutions for our customers. That’s our mission.”

So far, it’s been a very successful one for Cequent, known best to the RV market by its Reese, Tekonsha, Bulldog and Draw-Tite brands. Headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., the company, which serves both the aftermarket and OE manufacturers, reported revenue in March of more than $650 million in 2015. With a 10 percent compound annual growth rate from the end of 2010 through last year, it’s clear Cequent is doing something right.

One key to its success is new product innovation, according to John Walsh, vice president of sales and marketing.

“We will roll out new products throughout the year; however, we high- light particularly new developments at both SEMA and RVIA in Louisville. Louisville gets the season going for the RV market- place. We do have a few distributor dealer shows before Louisville that highlight new developments as well,” says Walsh. “What we try to do is remain very consistent in the presentation of our new products throughout all of our distributor shows as well as the trade events.”

 

Making Trailer Wiring a Snap

Cequent, whose U.S.-designed lines are made in Mexico and abroad in accordance with strict manufacturing procedures, recently introduced several items that should pique interest among RV customers. Company of cials are particularly excited about Tekonsha’s new, easy-to-install ZCI trailer light power module featuring a “Snap, Don’t Snip” design — a product that was first suggested by Cequent’s dealer body.

“In the past, we’ve always had to cut and splice and oftentimes that disrupts a lot of the new electrical systems in today’s

cars,” he says. “ZCI, or Zero Contact Inter- face, requires no cutting or splicing and it works on all known vehicles. We designed a solution that can handle every known vehicle in America, Canada and Mexico. The ZCI smart technology sensors simply snap around the tow vehicle lighting wires without splicing or cutting and detect current flow to activate the trailer lights.”

First shown at last year’s SEMA Show and RVIA’s National RV Trade Show, ZCI was well-received, he says.

“It seems like most dealers want to have one or two on the shelf just as a

security measure in case they need it on a Friday when someone comes in ready to go to a campground,” Walsh says. Tekonsha, which began development on ZCI three years ago, recognized the challenge of wiring into today’s vehicles, with their sophisticated multiplex CAN bus architectures, from a shop’s point of view.

“We’re seeing a revolving door relative to technicians. One of the tough things a lot of the dealers are having is keeping good, qualified technicians in place long term in the dealership,” Walsh says. “This product also makes it extremely easy to train and educate a new person coming into the dealership because electrical is probably, in our world of towing, the most daunting piece of an installation. It scares most people because you’re dealing with a 12-volt system and all the things that could potentially go wrong, plus the legal implications if it’s not done correctly.”

Engineers at Tekonsha were able to get ZCI compatible with 80 percent of all North American vehicles within 18 months, Walsh says. The remaining 20 per- cent took more time and led to a delay of the patented product’s introduction, but it was necessary to ensure complete coverage.

 

Steady as She Tows

Also last year, Cequent’s Reese brand unveiled a high-performance, light-duty weight distribution and sway control product, called Steadi-Flex.

“It basically improves light-duty towing,” Walsh says. “If you’ve got a minivan or a small SUV and you want to upgrade handling and performance, this is a great solution for that. It’s active sway control and weight distribution in one.”

The hitch — yet another product suggested by dealers — has six points of sway control, featuring integrated automotive- grade friction pads on the spring bar frame brackets, which translates into superior sway control during operation, in addition to other features that make it quiet and more durable, according to Walsh.

“There’s a lot of entry into the RV space. If someone’s buying a pop-up camper or maybe even a small Airstream trailer, they need a different type of product,” he says. “They need something that’s easy to understand and easy to hook up, and so we’re trying to design products for that entry-level tow customer.”

The combination of a light vehicle and a light trailer means the potential for lots of sway, according to Walsh. And for a new RV owner, sway is one of the scariest things to experience on the road. That was the impetus for Steadi-Flex.

“Really, it’s all about improving that vacation, because we make products for people to go on vacation and for their work environments,” he says. “We really don’t want them to think about our products. We just want them to know we have a product that works and solves their problem.”

Early feedback on Steadi-Flex has been positive and a lot of orders were generated at the trade shows, Walsh says. The hitch even includes a special lift handle to make installation and removal of the spring bars easier.

 

Jack Gets Speedy Upgrade

From Cequent’s Bulldog brand, primarily an agricultural and industrial line, Walsh says the new Velocity Series High Speed Jack offers some serious bene ts for RV applications.

“We came up with a way to increase speed and efficiency with an electric approach versus hydraulics, which means the consumer doesn’t have to worry about all the complications of hooking up a hydraulic system,” he says. “The electric approach allows us to have a remote control and you can use two of these in tandem as a leveling feature. It provides 12,000-pound capacity per leg so it can handle virtually anything in the RV marketplace. It’s really a high-speed approach to jacks. If you’ve never worked with hydraulics, they go with their own speed. With electric, you can actually extend and retract the legs faster.”

A premium powder-coat finish covers the proprietary system and the footplate is articulated to conform to terrain, but Walsh says there’s also a dealer bene t.

“It’s three times faster than a hydraulic jack to install,” he says. “It mounts without any welding. It’s a pure bolt-on approach.”

The Velocity Series jack will be a perfect t for agriculture and industrial trailers, too, he says, two markets Cequent has served for decades.

“It’s also a wonderful product for cold weather environments. In a hydraulic situation, it can get a little funny in the wintertime, whereas with electric, you don’t have that problem,” Walsh says. “Because of the way we’ve designed the inner core of this product, it actually releases from an icy substrate much easier, much faster and much more efficiently than you find in a hydraulic application.”

The Velocity’s weight rating may seem like overkill for most RV duties, but that extra capability is a company hallmark.

“Our products are all designed to exceed the needs of the vehicle,” Walsh says. “We’re very cautious when it comes to that. You can imagine,

with close to a 100-year history, we want to make sure our products exceed

all customer expectations.”

 

A-Frame Jack Now Spring Loaded, Heavier Duty

Also from Bulldog is the 4,000-pound- capacity version of its powered A-frame jack, a follow-up to the 3,500-pound jack the supplier released in 2014.

“I’d say the most distinguishing feature of this is a spring-loaded, drop-leg pull pin,” he says. “It’s a proprietary patented product that we created, and what it allows a person to do is drop that pull pin into position. It makes it easier than trying to find the hole and then get it aligned. Since this is spring loaded, it’ll catch that hole and connect positively.”

The powered line is relatively new for Bulldog — a brand that’s been around since 1920. Bulldog jacks have required manual operation until now, Walsh says, but product planners have recognized consumers don’t want to turn cranks each time they use a trailer.

With that in mind, Bulldog has stepped into the DC electric utility winch market, too. Having made commercial and hoist winches for years, Walsh says making a line applicable to toy hauler owners, for example, was a natural t.

“The uniqueness around this is really form and function. We developed a remote control for this, but not just a remote control that plugs in,” he says, “we’ve also developed a wireless remote control.”

Bulldog offers DC electric utility and heavy-duty winches in capacities from 2,500 pounds all the way to 12,000 pounds to cover a variety of needs.

 

Dealer Support Takes Many Forms

With the range of products available from Cequent — which also includes the Bargman, Fulton, Hidden Hitch and Wesbar lines — excellent dealer support is vital.

“I’d say there are two primary elements. One is our field sales force. They are geo- graphically dispersed and they cover all of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They’re equipped technically to answer questions and to teach, but another real big part of our dealer support is field training and education,” Walsh says. “We deal with products that can be dangerous if not installed and communicated properly with the consumer, so we spend huge amounts of time, energy and effort in field training and education.”

In the past, Cequent staff would hold events in different parts of the country so nearby dealers could more easily send technicians for training. While the company still does that for RVIA re-certification classes, other training events became less attended in recent years as shops simply couldn’t release their busy techs.

“That’s when we developed our online video and e-Learning module series,” Walsh says. “With our e-Learning modules, you can actually self-drive a product feature or technical training exercise with a test at the end and it’s open to the dealer and installer community. We’re continuing to build on that as we move forward.”

One long-time favorite that Cequent continues to offer is “drive and rides” for dealers who request them.

“Demonstrating product is so much better than trying to sell it from a catalog,” he says. “We actually take a truck-trailer combination into a dealership and we’ll let them get into the vehicle, we’ll run it with one of our brake controls, one of our weight distribution systems, a gooseneck or a fifth wheel and we’ll put it through the ringer, quite frankly.”

If techs or customers run into trouble, Cequent has an 800 line staffed five days a week, he says, plus there are FAQs and lots of product-specific videos.

“A person can go in, watch the video and really get a good understanding of what’s going on,” he says.

Not surprisingly, considering its resources, Cequent can provide dealers with a full line of merchandising and display sup- port, including exterior and interior signage.

“Now that we’ve brought together our consumer retail group and our aftermarket group, we’re actually developing a whole new series of planograms in four-, eight- and 12-foot sizes in the various brands,” he says.

 

Strength is in the Brands

Ultimately, Cequent’s spin-off will allow the company to utilize the strengths of each of its brands, providing customers with the products and merchandising aides they need to support and growth their businesses, Walsh says.

“What we’re focused on is high-velocity products that an RV dealer can really put in with assurance and know that they’re going to sell because they’ve been proven in retail environment,” he says.

For Aleva, the legacy and durability of Cequent’s brands is what keeps the company at the top.

“If you want the better product or the best product in the marketplace, that’s who we are. We sell pro brands. We sell brands that are trusted, tried and tested thoroughly,” he says. “If you abuse our products, they’ll still be there.”

 

 

 

 

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Corporate restructuring in the RV industry seems never ending, especially in the past few years. 

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March Marks 25 Years for Advantage PressurePro

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PressurePro

Advantage PressurePro is celebrating 25 years of providing TPMS solutions to the RV, commercial and heavy-duty markets this month.

Founded in March 1991 by Phillip and Rhita Zaroor, PressurePro has remained a local, family owned and operated business while growing its distribution and product reach across the globe.

“Our hometown of Harrisonville, Mo., is a small city of about 10,000. Many people, even in our own community don’t realize the reach our business has in over 40 countries across the world, or that we remain the only American-made TPMS solution on the market,” PressurePro Chief Marketing Officer Vanessa Zaroor Hargrave said. “Quite simply, it’s exciting what we’ve accomplished and continue to accomplish.”

Through the years, the company has lead the development of customizable alerts, data logging, integrated TPMS/Telematics (remote monitoring) solutions and more, and in 2015, the company debuted its TPMS+ platform.

“We’re certainly not slowing down,” Chief Operating Officer Jason Zaroor said. “In fact, we look forward to several new product releases in 2016 that will help further cement our dedication to the continued development and advancement of the TPMS market.”

Tents for Troops Adds 35 Parks across 16 States

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Tents for Troops

Tents for Troops added 35 RV Parks to its network of campgrounds that provide lodging to military members at little or no cost.  

In a news release, the group reported it had added campgrounds in Missouri, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Washington, California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

“We have some great new volunteers and ambassadors helping us out this year,” Founder Charlie Curry said in a news release. “Brian and C Beamon have been huge supporters out West, and Staff Sgt. Chad Franz, an active duty U.S. Marine from New Hampshire, who’s been a great help as well.”  

Curry reported that the group, which oversees a network of participating parks that allow active duty military members free lodging, plans to launch a new website in the coming months.

“New changes to the site will greatly increase our capacity and be far more user friendly. Matthew Pagel and Todd Engkraf, have been instrumental to making this change happen,” Curry said.

Curry expects to test the site, which will incorporate Google maps of participating parks in the U.S. and Canada, this week.

Last year, Tents for Troops began several initiatives hoping to spur participation from the RV industry, including a program that would allow manufacturers to donate a dollar for every unit sold.

The group hopes to provide campgrounds within the network with dedicated travel trailers for troops to stay in while camping. Curry credited Newmar President Matt Miller for leading support among RV manufacturers.

“Special thanks also goes out to Matt Miller at Newmar for his generous year-end donation, I think Matt and his staff at Newmar feel as strongly about our troops as I do and it is great to have that type of support,” Curry said. “Newmar also paid for the Tents for Troops booth at the RVIA show in Louisville this past December where we were joined by Retired Navy Vice Admiral Kenneth Floyd and his beautiful wife, Debbie.”

For more information, or to support T4T, contact Curry at tentsfortroops@aol.com or call 503-425-9105.

RV Roof Repair Company Offers Franchise Options

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Never Leak RV Roofing, a Florida-based company that provides RV roof repair, replacement, remodeling and inspection, announced that it has launched a franchise program designed to expand the company’s footprint nationwide.

“Demand for our services is skyrocketing, and we’re constantly getting calls and emails from RV owners across the country who want us to end their frustrating, dangerous and costly leaky roof ordeal,” said Michael Saegesser, the owner of Never Leak RV Roofing. “The best way that we can serve these customers is by building a nationwide network of authorized franchisees, and giving them the training, tools and support they need to be successful.”

Never Leak RV Roofing franchisees can be located in any state, and the franchise fee for a protected territory has been set at $10,000 – which is significantly lower than competitors who typically charge between $25,000 and $50,000. Also unlike competitors, Never Leak RV Roofing is not obligating franchisees to purchase and maintain costly warehouses, and all repair, replacement, remodeling and inspection jobs can be completed with a minimal two-man crew.

In terms of marketing and business support, all franchisees will receive:

Marketing materials, including business cards and brochures

The opportunity to purchase deeply discounted products (e.g. sealant)

A designated storefront website attached to Never Leak RV Roofing main website, which receives thousands of unique hits per month from prospective customers nationwide

Individuals and businesses interested in learning more about potentially purchasing a Never Leak RV Roofing franchise are invited to submit an initial, brief letter of interest to Michael Saegesser at nvrlkrvroofing@gmail.com. All correspondence will be kept in the strictest of confidence.

ROUTE 66 Donates $2,000 to Learning Center

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The ROUTE 66 RV Network recently donated $2,000 to the Mike Molino RV Learning Center, with an overall pledge of $5,000. The network of independent dealers is in the “Champion” level of donors.

“While we as a network are excited to support the work of the Mike Molino RV Learning Center,” said Dave Francis, a partner in the ROUTE 66 RV Network. “Many of our ROUTE 66 RV Network dealers have personally pledged or contributed over $200,000 to help strengthen our industry's ability to meet the growing demand of today’s RVers.”

The ROUTE 66 RV Network consists of dealers in nearly 150 locations and 1,200 dealer service bays manned by highly-trained Certified RV Technicians.

“Dealer networks have a great stake in maintaining a highly educated dealer body and ROUTE 66 RV Network’s donation history is proof of their commitment,” said RV Learning Center Chairman of the Board Jeff Pastore of Hartville RV Center in Hartville, Ohio. “We are fortunate to have industry partners who value the work of the Learning Center and take steps to keep it funded and going strong.”


Used Travel Trailer Prices Spiked Last Month

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The weather has finally started to improve, and the performance of RVs at auction has followed suit, according to Black Book’s latest used RV values in February.

Motorized and towable units once again moved in the same direction in February, but as both major market segments improved, one climbed much faster than the other.

Motorhome prices moved up less than 1 percent while used travel trailers sold 10.4 percent higher than in January, according to the report.

“Motorhomes’ less than 1 percent increase can be largely attributed to a surprising quantity of below-average to rough condition units that were sold at auction last month,” Black Book Director of Specialty Markets Eric Lawrence said in a news release. “The coming months should see sales improve substantially.”

The average selling price for motorized units was $35,124, which is an increase of $222 (0.6 percent) from the previous month. Towables came in at $11,948, up $1,126 (10.4 percent) from last month. 

One year ago the average motorhome sold for $36,732 and the average towable unit brought $11,012.

Auction volume was up substantially: 16 percent for motorized units and 42 percent for towables, and is expected to climb over the next few months. 

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  • Black Book
  • Black Book

Blue Ox Annual Training Seminar Draws 28

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Blue Ox

March 6-9, 28 service technicians from across the country gathered in West Point, Neb., to participate in Blue Ox's annual OXSMART Training Seminar, according to a news release from the company.

OXSMART is hands-on training conducted by Blue Ox product experts in tow bars, baseplates, weight distributing, braking systems, and chassis performance products.

“We were delighted to host this important training event for RV technicians. The class members were enthusiastic, professional, and dedicated to learning,” Blue Ox President and CEO Ellen Kietzmann said. 

Click here for a photo of the 2016 OXSMART class. 

Blue Ox includes all training, airfare, meals, and hotel costs in the initial tuition fee as an added benefit for Blue Ox Rewards dealers.

After arriving in West Point, the attendees were treated to a welcome reception and dinner at the Horizon Inn, the headquarters hotel for the event.

OXSMART training spans two days. The first day is comprised of chassis performance training where the participants install Blue Ox Trucenter steering controls, Blue Ox Sway Bars, and Blue Ox Trac Bars.  

Swaypro installation also is taught on the first day including a ride and drive demonstrating Swaypro's sway prevention and handling. That evening, Blue Ox hosted a catered steak dinner and a night of entertainment and games at the Nielsen Center.

During the second day, technicians were trained in the installation of towed vehicle baseplates, braking systems, and the Blue Ox Gooseneck Hitch. 

Technicians also visited the factory in Pender, for a tour where they observed Blue Ox products being manufactured. Upon completion of the second day’s training, the graduates spent the evening at Embassy Suites in Omaha with a celebratory dinner at Upstream Brewing Company in the Old Market.

“We are very pleased with the level of engagement each technician brings to OXSMART training and honored to offer a comprehensive training program that earns our graduates 13 hours of credit in the RVDA-RVIA Service Technical Certification program,” Kietzmann said. 

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  • OXSMART

Legal Fees Trim Ocean Bio-Chem Bottom Line in 2015

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OBCI

Ocean Bio-Chem announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a special cash dividend of six cents per share, payable on April 26 to holders of record of the company’s common stock on April 12.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our shareholders the second cash dividend in our Company's history,” Ocean Bio-Chem President and CEO Peter Dornau said. “Two years ago, we provided a 5 cents per share cash dividend, and we believe that this second dividend demonstrates Ocean Bio-Chem’s continued solid financial condition and our ongoing appreciation of our investors."

Dornau said the company’s 2015 results reflect high legal costs due to litigation between Star brite Distributing and one of its competitors.

“Our 2015 results reflect our high legal costs in connection with rigorously contested litigation between our subsidiary, Star brite Distributing Inc., and a major competitor,” Dornau said in the report. 

Each party included a claim that the other engaged in false advertising in connection with competing products.

In February 2016, a jury trial on the parties’ allegations was held in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. While the jury found that neither party engaged in false advertising, we were especially gratified with the jury's verdict that Star brite did not engage in false advertising on any of its claims with respect to its flagship product, Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment.

For the 2015 year, the company reported net income of approximately $461,000 compared to net income of approximately $2 million for the 2014 year. The Company reported net sales for 2015 of approximately $34 million compared to approximately $33.9 million for 2014.

The false advertising litigation was argued before the jury in a 13-day trial in February 2016. As a result, legal expenses with respect to the trial, which exceeded $1 million in the first quarter of 2016, will adversely affect the company's first quarter 2016 financial results.

Thor Pitches in for ‘Wings for Autism’ Event in South Bend

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Thor Industries

An organization that provides services to disabled people, ADEC, is teaming up with Thor Industries for “Wings for Autism” at the South Bend International Airport to give families with autistic children and other intellectual and development disabilities a test run of airport procedures, the Elkhart Truth reports.

During the event, set for April 30, all airport personnel, Transportation Security Administration staff and airline employees will carry out their regular duties to show children and family members what to expect. Participants will clear security, board the plane, fasten their seatbelts and prepare for takeoff.

The event will help local families like the Kirktons of Middlebury, who have had stressful experiences while flying with a son with autism in a post-9/11 airport atmosphere.

The first one happened in 2006 when the family was traveling to Texas. When it came time to remove shoes, Justin Kirkton, who has autism, did not want to give them up.

“We had to hold him down and take his shoes off,” his mom, Lisa Kirkton, said. “It’s easy for a typical person. Sure, you’re going to get them back. In his mind, he had no idea why we’re taking his shoes and if he would ever get them back. It was really upsetting.”

Wings for Autism started in 2010 when a chapter of The Arc, an advocacy organization for people with disabilities, partnered with the Massachusetts Port Authority. The airport test run has been brought to airports all over the country since then, although the April 30 event in South Bend is the first in Indiana.

The event is free but capacity is limited, so families are required to register ahead of time by visiting www.adecinc.com.

“We’re excited to be a part of this,” said Julie Curtis, the airport’s director of marketing and development.

http://www.elkharttruth.com/living/2016/03/31/South-Bend-International-A...

Dometic to Stay Course in 2016

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Dometic

Supplier Dometic released its 2015 annual report Wednesday (March 30), outlining the state of the company and its strategy for the upcoming year.

For 2015, the company reported it achieved organic sales growth across all markets, with the 2014 acquisition of Atwood and Prostor contributing to an increased top line. The company said it would maintain a similar strategy of growth for the upcoming year, both in North America and its international markets.

“Especially strong development in EMEA, mainly driven by the recovering RV market combined with favorable market conditions drove good sales for many of our products,” the report read.

“The Americas region showed good growth in all business areas. Operating cash flow improved compared to last year, mainly due to the strong earnings improvement.”

The company reported its strategy for growth would continue in the upcoming year, specifically referencing the 2014 acquisition of Atwood and awning maker Prostor.

“Our strategy stays firm and in 2015 we continued to make progress according to our plan for growth and profit improvement,” according to the report. “... In North America we are now truly one organization, working in a common ERP system and anticipated synergies have been realized according to plans. ...

“The strong momentum during the year in our aftermarket business is the result of several efforts starting to come through. Growth initiatives in all three regions fueled by nice hot summer seasons led to solid growth and margin improvements in our different Aftermarket businesses, which remain our biggest areas of opportunity for organic, profitable growth.

“Outlook of the coming year we have set our financial targets as outlined below and we have a roadmap of initiatives to continue to implement our strategy. In light of this and the current conditions of our markets, we remain confident for 2016.

The Group’s medium- to long-term financial targets Dometic Group’s Board of Directors has 2015 adopted the following medium- to long-term financial targets over the cycle:”

Click here for the full report.

 

RVIA Advocacy Day Set for June 8

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Capitol Hill

The RV Industry Association’s Capitol Hill Advocacy Day will take place June 8, where association members will meet with Congressional staff to discuss issues of the RV the industry.

According to a news release from RVIA, the centerpiece of this year’s Congressional meetings will be findings from the RVs Move America Economic Impact Study that confirms the RV industry is a dynamic part of the U.S. economy.

During sit-downs with U.S. Senators, Representatives and their staff, RVIA members will present detailed information on the impact of the RV industry at the national and state level as well as breakdowns of specific jurisdictions.

Congressional members have long-asked for this type of data and will be eager to learn more about the study and the impact of the RV market on their district.

The activism and excitement of Advocacy Day carries into the evening with the House and Senate RV Caucus Reception, taking place from 5 to 7 p.m.  

RVIA members will join with special guests from the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Capitol Hill Staff, government agencies and allied trade associations to celebrate the RV industry and its impact on the economy.

Organized over the past two years, the House and Senate RV Caucuses educate members of Congress on the value of the RV lifestyle, highlight the economic benefit the RV market provides across the country, and find common ground on matters of concern to the RV industry.

Following the reception, Capitol Hill Advocacy Day participants will end the day on a high note with the “RVs Move America Celebration” dinner at Bobby Van’s in downtown Washington, DC. This gala event will be the perfect backdrop for RVIA members to toast a great day of advocacy and share stories about their adventures on Capitol Hill.

RVIA will provide a number of online training opportunities in the weeks before the event; “drop in” Advocacy Day training all afternoon on Tuesday, June 7, at The Mayflower hotel; and a full briefing the morning of the event. For more information or to register for the event, visit the Advocacy Day website or contact Monika Geraci at mgeraci@rvia.org or 800-336-0154, x318.

Go RVing Expands LPGA Promotional Tour

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Go RVing

Go RVing is promoting RV travel and camping at popular LPGA tour stops this spring with RVs displayed on the golf course.

After a trial run with the LPGA last year, Go RVing expanded the promotion to five events this spring.

“The LPGA tour stops provide a family-friendly environment to introduce consumers to RV travel and camping,” said James Ashurst, RV Industry Association vice president of communications and advertising. “People who regularly attend these events have children, have higher discretionary income and are likely to be in Go RVing’s target market.”

The first event at the JTBC Founders Cup in Phoenix, Ariz., from March 17 to 20 featured a Forest River FR3 motorhome provided by Little Dealer, Little Prices of Phoenix. More than 1,260 golf fans toured the unit during the event.

The following weekend (March 24 to 27), a Thor Miramar Class A and Winnebago Era Class B motorhome provided by La Mesa RV were showcased at the Kia Classic Tournament in Carlsbad, Calif. Nearly 1,500 consumers walked through these units.

In addition to the RVs available for tours, the Go RVing activations also feature miniature golf, autograph sessions with LPGA tour pros, Go RVing golf towel giveaways, and daily drawings for Avalanche coolers provided by Dometic.

Go RVing also will be on site at the VOA Texas Shootout in Irving, Texas, from April 28 to May 1; the Yokohama LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala., from May 5 to 8; and the Kingsmill Championship in Williamsburg, Va., from May 19 to 22. 


RVAA Hosting LP Gas Education

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RVAA

The RV Aftermarket Association will host a webinar called LP Gas: A Comprehensive & Factual Guide at noon Tuesday (April 5).

JR Products and Fairview Fittings will put on the hour-long clinic.

JR Products/Fairview Fittings Vice President of Sales & Marketing Brian Roba, along with Product Manager Andrew Ridge will lead the course.

Click here to register.

Course outlook:

  • BTU Capacity & QCC's – Does color actually mean anything?
  • UL / CSA Listing – Why should this be important to you?
  • Regulators – High Flow & Compact. What benefit does a twin stage provide?
  • Hose Assemblies – Plastic vs. Rubber
  • OEMs – Who are they choosing?
  • Accessories – Brass camping adapters, tank hardware, hose and fitting kits (extend flow / stay)

Camping World to Host Vendor Summit April 20-21

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Camping World

Camping World will host its second annual New Product Vendor Summit at The Inn at Opryland in Nashville, Tenn., on April 20-21, the company said in a news release Friday (April 1).

The Summit offers vendors and suppliers of innovative and new products to the RV and outdoor lifestyle market the opportunity to present their products to Camping World’s team of merchandise buyers and for their products to be selected to be offered across Camping World’s more than 115 retail stores and through CampingWorld.com.

“The objective of our annual summit is to create an efficient environment for vendors and suppliers to meet and communicate with our buyers,” Camping World CEO and Chairman Marcus Lemonis said. “As we continue to grow our company throughout the United States, we are also growing our product offering and increasing our focus on finding fantastic innovative products that our customers will love.”

The two-day event is free and open to all vendors, suppliers and manufacturers that have registered to attend the Vendor Summit. 

“Our goal is to always keep up with the changing trends and offer the best RV and outdoor camping products to our customer base,” states John A. Sirpilla, chief business development officer for Camping World and Good Sam. “So if you think you have what it takes to be the next Camping World vendor, come prepared to promote your product to our buyers with a 30-minute pitch.”

For more information, click here

Lichtsinn RV Sees Wave of Younger Buyers

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Lichtsinn RV

Many who step through the doors at Lichtsinn RV’s Forest City, Iowa, dealership are about to embark on buying a second home you could say, one that travels on wheels.

“It’s fun, it’s an incredible, free way to travel and see the world.  You’re on your own schedule, you don’t care what time it is or what day it is, if you don’t care for where you’re at, you move the next day so it’s not surprising to us,” said Heidi Thompson, Lichtsinn general manager.

Lichtsinn RV is seeing the rise in RV sales firsthand. Baby boomers are their typical customer, but that’s changing, kimt.com reports.

“On the same side, we have a lot of families, we have a lot of couples that haven’t retired yet who are also seeing the advantages of doing that and making memories that way,” Thompson said.

It’s not just the sales people seeing motor homes rolling out of the parking lot more.

“Just the industry in general has been very strong. Access to financing has been really good — that’s a big factor, gas prices have gone down, which is a real positive thing for RV owners. Finally, a lot of people want to be outside, enjoy the outdoors, spend time with families,” said Sam Jefson, public relations specialist with Winnebago Industries.

He says things are going quite well for the company since the 2008 recession.  They’re constantly hiring. Right now, roughly 2,400 employees work there. They’re expanding, opening more manufacturing facilities in Lake Mills, Waverly and Junction City, Ore.

SEC Files Suit Against Former Navistar CEO

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Daneil Ustain

The former chief executive of Navistar International orchestrated a “campaign of deception” to mislead investors, regulators and the public about the truck maker’s inability to comply with environmental regulations, according to a lawsuit reported on by Crain’s Chicago Business.

Daniel Ustian, who led the Lisle, Ill.-based truckmaker from 2003-12, made a huge bet on an engine technology, called exhaust gas recirculation, or EGR for short, that failed to meet tougher Environmental Protection Agency nitrogen oxide emission standards that went into effect in 2010.

The manufacturer ultimately abandoned the technology, but before doing so, Ustian repeatedly lied about whether his gamble on the engine device was working, according to a 57-page lawsuit the Securities and Exchange Commission filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago today.

“(From) 2010 through 2012, instead of coming clean with the public regarding the difficulties Navistar was experiencing in developing and certifying a competitive EGR-only engine, Ustian engaged in a coverup,” according to the suit.

Ustian violated securities laws, and should be subject to a wide range of penalties, according to the complaint. The SEC wants him to pay an unspecified amount of money and pay a civil penalty. The agency seeks to have him permanently barred from serving as a corporate officer or director.

Priority RV Sees Record Event Attendance

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Priority RV Network dealers gather at the M Resort, Spa & Casino in Henderson, Nev.

Priority RV Network recorded record attendance at its annual conference this week at M Resort, Spa & Casino in Henderson, Nev., a suburb of Las Vegas.

Those numbers are indicative of a broader trend of growth in both dealer members and vendors.

The RV dealer co-op has 65 dealer groups, which translates into 110 locations throughout the United States. The co-ops affiliation with RV Care in Canada adds another 61 dealers.

“That’s the largest group that we’ve ever been and the highest number of vendors that we’ve ever had,” says Mike Regan, Priority RV president.

Priority RV has grown at a small, but sustained pace for the past five years, adding 31 new dealers with 39 locations over that span.

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